Issue a Time-Limited Contractor Entry Code
Design a secure access flow for granting a contractor the minimum property access needed for a scheduled visit.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
Property managers often share permanent lock codes in messages when contractors need entry. Temporary access should be bound to an identity, place, purpose, and time, with quick revocation and a useful event trail.
User context
Hector manages an apartment building and needs a plumber to enter the service door, unit 4B, and a utility closet between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM while the tenant is at work.
Product problem
A manager needs to issue scoped credentials and coordinate tenant consent without exposing codes broadly or leaving access active after the visit.
Objective
Create approval, code issuance, visit monitoring, and revocation for one contractor appointment.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Verify the work order, contractor identity, and tenant access permission
- Choose allowed doors and a short validity window
- Deliver activation instructions through a verified channel
- Review entry events and revoke or close access
Screens and states
- Access request review
- Scope and schedule
- Active visit
- Access audit
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Hector opens the plumbing work order and confirms the tenant's accompanied-access waiver
- 02
He selects the service door, unit 4B, and utility closet for a two-hour window
- 03
The contractor verifies a phone number and receives activation instructions
- 04
Hector sees successful entry at the service door and unit
- 05
The code expires after checkout and the audit links each event to the work order
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Bind access to a verified contractor, work order, allowed zone, and time window
- Reveal the code only after required approvals and identity checks pass
- Show attempted, successful, denied, and offline-lock events without exposing the credential
- Allow immediate revocation with confirmation from connected locks
- Record who granted, extended, or revoked access and why
Constraints
- Door controllers can temporarily lose network connectivity
- Codes must not appear in notification previews
- Tenant permission and emergency-entry rules vary by property and jurisdiction
Reality check
States worth considering
Finish line
What to deliver
- Four responsive screens showing scoped issuance, live access, expiry, and an offline-lock warning
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.